In this episode of Craft Chat Chronicles, hosted by J.D. Myall, we’re excited to bring you a dynamic Debut Author Panel featuring some of the most promising new voices in literature: Arriel Vinson, M.C. Benner Dixon, Shalini Abeysekara, Dami Salako, Jill Tew, and Ashley Jordan.
Join us as these authors share their journeys from manuscript to publication, offering a rare glimpse into the world of debut authorship. Shalini Abeysekara discusses her dark romanticist novel, This Monster of Mine, set to release in April 2025, while M.C. Benner Dixon talks about her novel, The Height of Land, coming out on March 4th, 2025. Jill Tew gives us an exclusive look at her young adult dystopian novel, The Dividing Sky, due in October 2025, and Ashley Jordan adds her unique perspective to the conversation. Dami Salako, another standout debut author, will also be sharing insights on her writing and debut experience.
This episode is packed with practical advice, personal stories, and invaluable insights for anyone interested in the debut process. Whether you're an aspiring author or simply curious about what it takes to bring a book to life, this conversation offers a front-row seat to the thrilling and sometimes daunting world of publishing.
Tune in to learn from these talented authors and get inspired by their experiences. Don’t miss this chance to discover the next wave of literary talent and understand the true meaning of bringing a book to life.
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🎙️ Craft Chat Chronicles with J.D. Myall
Candid conversations on writing, publishing, and creative life — featuring bestselling authors, MFA students, and writers at every stage of the journey.
About J.D. Myall
J.D. Myall is the co-chair of Drexel University’s MFA Alumni Association and a publishing and library professional. She is the creator and host of Craft Chat Chronicles, where she interviews authors, agents, and industry insiders about the art and business of writing.
Her work has appeared in Ms. Magazine, Writer’s Digest, and HuffPost. Her debut novel, Heart’s Gambit, releases with Wednesday Books/Macmillan in February 2026.
When she’s not conjuring magic, murder, and mayhem on the page, J.D. mentors emerging writers through workshops and alumni programs, fostering community among aspiring and published authors alike.
💜 Connect with J.D. Myall
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Watch episodes on YouTube as well.
💜 Level up your writing process with Scrivener ...
Episode Transcript
Welcome to Craft Chat Chronicles, the go-to podcast
for tips on craftingbest-selling fiction.
Here at Craft Chat Chronicles,we bring you expert interviews,
insights and tips on writing,publishing and marketing.
Join the conversation andembark on a new chapter in your
(00:26):
writing journey.
For workshops, show notes andmore information, visit
jdmayalcom.
That's jdmayalcom.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
On season two, episode seven of Craft Chat
Chronicles, we have a debutauthor panel.
We'll learn about the debutprocess, from securing the agent
to getting the book deal, towhat it feels like to see your
cover for the first time and getsome writing and craft tips
from debut authors whose bookswill be in store in 2025.
(01:03):
So learn all about publishingand what it's like to be a debut
author from those who are inthe thick of it.
On today's episode of CraftChat Chronicles, Welcome you
guys to another Drexel MFAAlumni Craft Chat.
Tonight we're going to dive inand we're going to have a rich
(01:24):
discussion with a fantasticgroup of debut authors.
They're going to talk a littlewriting, a little publishing.
Give you the inside track onthe debut experience from people
who are still in the thick ofit, because we will all be
debuting in 2025.
So can we start by having ourpanel go around and introduce
themselves?
Shalini, do you want to bitethe bullet and go first by
(01:47):
having our panel go around andintroduce?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
themselves.
Shalini, do you want to bitethe bullet and go first?
Yeah, let's do it.
So, hi everyone, I'm Shalini.
I'm a writer based in Ontario,canada, and my debut dark
romanticist, this Monster ofMine, will be coming out in
spring 2025.
The tentative date we have setis April.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
And yeah, I'm really excited to be here, awesome.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
MC, do you want to jump in next?
Sure, thank you.
My name is MC Benner-Dixon, butif you're just talking to my
face you can always call meChristine, because that's one of
my many names that I go by.
My debut novel is called theHeight of Land.
It is debuting March 4th 2025.
(02:37):
I just got my date date.
So I had been a vague springperson for a while.
I have in the past.
I have another book that isnon-fiction.
That's about writing calledMillions of Sons, co-authored
with a poet friend of mine,sharon Fagan McDermott.
So I have a little bit of likehaving done this as a nonfiction
author last year and now doingthis in fiction and feeling the
(02:58):
kind of the differences of goingabout this both on my own and
with a novel rather than acollection of essays.
So here we go.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Awesome, jill, I see you just arrived.
Welcome, welcome to you.
Introduce yourself to everybody.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, absolutely Sorry, I'm late.
The Zoom was doing a weirdthing with like a waiting room.
I'm Jill Tu.
I am a debut author with a bookcoming out this October,
october 8th.
The Dividing Sky is a youngadult dystopian novel about a
girl who uses her neurochip toillegally deal happy memories
and the handsome rookiedetermined to arrest her.
(03:38):
I'm a big sci-fi geek.
I loved like Hunger Games andDivergent and stuff growing up
and wanted to write a story withan all BIPOC cast and two Black
leads.
And so here we are and, yeah,I've been writing for about 10
years and got agented aboutthree years ago and then we sold
this book about two years agoand then since then I sold a
(04:00):
couple of middle grade books toDisney and then, as well as my
option book, to Penguin RandomHouse as well.
So, yeah, happy to chat aboutany and all part of the querying
and submission process and evenwriting, you know.
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